Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-08-26
A THIEF.

| Thunder! one must be perfect ras-
cali Ali the brigandr' exclaimed the
old Waterman stopping, unable to speak
any more, overwhelmed with Indignation.
Finally, that is too strongl It is inn
| possible to believe such rascality' Never,
no; God be praised, never the Waterman
has witnessed a thing of that nature,
which in the last few days had COMPOUNDED
him, filled his soul with rage and set his
brain on fire.
1t was not yesterday that he made his
round through the silent paths for the
| first time. Ten years ago Jean, then q
| soldier, left his regiment Thanks to his
most excellent discharge and to some
wounds caught almost everywhere, he
had obtained the position of Waterman of
the Ivry cemetery. An old bachelor,
without any family, after leaving his
comrades he found himself alone in the
worla without any one to love, therefore
he began to cherish the graves and monu-
ments confided to his keeping.
Little by little they became his whole
life; he considered them as his own prop
erty, knew by heart all the Inscriptions
recently painted on the humble wooden
crosses or engraved on the stones His
tombs were his family, his friends, hts
regiment! and in their midst he prone
naded slowly, habituated to the sound of
his steps on the sand, and his days passed
in happy calm.
Now his happiness had vanished; sud-
denly his life, SO sweet, so uniform, had
been poisoned; anger made his blood boil;
Jean had noticed that somebody had
robbed his tombsl All the valuable
things were disdained; but as soon as a
grave was covered with rare and costly
flowers, sacrilegious hand, profaning the
sacred souvenir, robbing the dead, dug
the choicest plants and carried them
away.
The cowardice of this crime exceeded
the comprehensive power of the old SOL
dier, and in his brain single idea re-
manned: "To catch the thief andl
and! he did not finish his
sentence, but his arm stretched itself.
he threw his fist straight before him,
threatening the unknown Around him.
breaking the end of his cane, he caused
the stones to fly; then he recommended his
promenade, exclaiming in refrain con-
tanning all his rage:
Thunder! one must be perfect ras-
calp'
Turning the path, Jean saw a very
small girl ambling with unsteady step;
she was scantily clothed, a rag of dress,
through the holes of which she showed
her rosy flesh was covered with mud, and
her stockings were down on her heels; her
bare feet struck big stone; the pain made
her cry; she stopped a second; then. cast
ing an inquiring glance around her, she
resumed her walk.
From far off the Waterman followed
this little body that the wind Jailed.
every likely" said he to himself, zone
of those young beggars who infest the
cemeteries vagabonds sent there by in
famous parents to draw a few pennies
sudden his cheek Redeemed. His eyes
shone with anger. He wanted to speak,
but, stifed with emotion, he could not.
Motionless, he saw the little one, bending
over a grave, seize a rosebush with
both hands. She pulled it with all her
might for whole minute without sue i
cess; then, making last effort, she I'M !
rooted it.
She rose, took the rosebush and ran
straight before her, stumbling, ready to
fall, decorating her feet without f1inching !
She heard not the painting respiration of
the old Waterman who followed her, and
who said: "Ah! rascal, will catch thee!
thy fate is settledr'
When Jean joined her, at the end of
the cemetery, in what is called ''the COM
mon burial ground" otherwise the Pot
ter's field, the child had fallen on her
knees before grave which contrasted
strangely with the surrounding ones;
rough wooden cross, clumsily set in the
ground, was half bent over; but around,
as on the richest tombs, some magnificent
flowers covered this grave of the poor
ctr tod o4k IL.
kneeling pauperess; she murmured in
comprehensive words; her body was con-
vulsively agitated by sobs; she uttered
some plaintive groans and big tears rolled
down her pinched cheeks.
She raised her head, joined her hands,
and her silver toned voice assembled and
resounded strangely in the silence of the
metropolis. She said:
"Our mother who is in heayeni,
She took the rosebush that she had
placed near her and kissed the flowers one
by one; then, with her nails, around
which small drops of blood appeared. she
dug hole, in which she deposited the
plant.
Behind her, unconscious of what he was
doing, Jean had removed his hat, but, as
If ashamed of his sensibility, he replaced
it on his head and called himself an old
fool, and deciding to end that business. he
put his hands rudely on the child's
shoulders, made her face him, and said:
81 catch you, little thiefp'
Frightened, seeming to awake from A.
the child looked at him; she
saw his angry face and heard his big thun-
1ering voice calling her little thief. Then
She cried aloud, wanted to escape, while.
paralyzed with fear, she remained as
nailed in the ground; her teeth chartered
and her big blue eyes rested on the old
soldier.
This scene had softened the tone of his
voice; now, it seemed impossible to him
hat this little tiny, handsome head could
belong to thief, and searching the ex-
oressions of her face, fearing to brighten
ler, he put caressing .ifection in his
words. The child did not answer his ]
questions; then anger regained him and 6
he raised his hand, crying to her: il
''Speak! or elsen- |
He did not finish his phrase, as, with 6
)ut attempting to avoid the coming blow t
designed, the child bent her head, the t
Waterman lowered his arm and his face =,
turned crimson, as if he had done bad 7
action. i
The child moved her lips; she wanted to g
speak, but the sobs strangling, smother
AS noA, PAc'enoeo Aer Aroin arUlculaJlng
word. Only some harsh cries, unintelli- /
yible sounds, came out from her throat
Frustrated with emotion, she fell heavily
N her knees, stretching forth her arms.
ind with her finger yet black with earth c
making desperate gesture she showed r
he grave on which lay the roses to the I
Jean did not comprehend; his anger was b
one before this child of sorrow; he for.
ot his grief against her, took her in his c
rms and lovingly he said to her: n
sHushl hush my dear. I will not hurt t